Home Care After Extraction

Proper care after your endodontic treatment supports healing, reduces discomfort, and helps your tooth stay healthy long-term.

COMMON SYMPTOMS

What to Expect After Extraction

After an extraction, some discomfort is normal, but certain symptoms mean the office should be contacted.​

COMMON SYMPTOMS
  • Bruising and nose drainage, fading in a few days or a week.
  • Mild to moderate pain or soreness at the site that improves over several days.​
  • Swelling and tenderness in the gum, cheek, or jaw, sometimes with mild bruising.​
  • Light oozing or minor bleeding for several hours after the procedure.​
  • Jaw stiffness and mild difficulty opening, especially after a longer or surgical extraction.​
  • Nearby teeth may feel tender or sensitive when biting or brushing.​
 
CONCERNING SYMPTOMS
  • Severe, worsening, or new throbbing pain after several days, which may suggest dry socket.
  • Swelling that increases after 48 hours or makes it hard to open your mouth.​
  • Persistent or heavy bleeding that does not slow with firm pressure on gauze.​
  • Fever, spreading redness, pus, foul taste, or ongoing bad breath suggesting infection.​
  • Pain spreading to the ear, temple, neck, or eye, or visible exposed bone in the socket.
  • ​New or ongoing numbness, tingling, or trouble swallowing or breathing.

MANAGING SYMPTOMS

Bleeding After Extraction

  1. Bite on the gauze over the area and change it about every hour until the bleeding stops.​
  2. Before you put in new gauze, wet it a little with cold water so it is slightly damp.

 

If bleeding after six hours, place a wet tea bag on the site for one hour. Repeat this twice if necessary. If the surgical site continues to bleed, contact our office.

EATING AND DRINKING

Hydration is Key

  1. Drink lots of fluids the first 3 days to stay hydrated and help healing by keeping saliva flowing.​
  2. No straws. The sucking action can pull out the blood clot and cause painful dry socket.​
  3. Skip soda (bubbly and sugary, which irritates the spot) 
  4. Skip green/herbal teas (often hot or caffeinated, which can mess with the clot).
  5. Eat very soft foods.​
Full List

MEDICATION GUIDELINES

How to Take Prescriptions

MEDROL DOSEPAK

If you were prescribed a Medrol Dosepak for inflammation, please follow the directions below.Your pharmacist’s instructions may differ; for this prescription, follow our instructions.

  1. Day 1 take 6 pills
  2. Day 2 take 5 pills
  3. Day 3 take 4 pills
  4. Day 4 take 3 pills
  5. Day 5 take 2 pills
  6. Day 6 take 1 pill
 
PERIDEX MOUTHWASH

Rinse with your prescribed mouthwash (Peridex) three times a day

PROPER HYGIENE

Days 2 and 3 Matter

On days 2 and 3 are especially important for proper hygiene because pain and swelling often peak 48–72 hours after treatment and good hygiene prevents infection from starting or getting worse.

Without consistent cleaning on days 2 and 3, more plaque and bacteria can build up around the area, which can delay recovery and increase tenderness.

For 2 weeks after surgery, do not use powered tooth-brushes and flossers such as Water Pik or Sonicare.